Sporting Heroes for 60 years: No. 17 Anna Smashnova
Never has there been an Israeli sports star whose name better epitomizes their performances than Anna Smashnova.
By JEREMY LASTsmashnova hitting ball (photo credit: AP)
Never has there been an Israeli sports star whose name better epitomizes their performances than Anna Smashnova. The thumping baseline style of the Minsk-born tennis star fired her to the upper echelons of the game from a young age, and, over a career spanning 16 years ,she established herself as one of the greatest Israeli players of all time.
It was in Minsk, USSR (now Belarus) that Smashnova first found success, becoming the number one junior in the entire Soviet Union at the tender age of 10. She made aliyah with her family in 1990, aged 15, and trained at the Israel Tennis Centers. Soon she was making waves on the international circuit, winning the following year's French Open girls title.
The professional game, is, however, a different world and it took time and struggle for Smashnova to reach the top. It wasn't until 2000 that she began winning titles regularly and, in 2002, reached a career high ranking of 15.
Overall she won 12 WTA titles and seven ITF tournaments, but never got past the fourth round at any major. One of her most famous victories came in China at the 2002 Shanghai Open when she beat Russian Anna Kornikova 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Up till her retirement from professional tennis in 2007 Smashnova was also a significant member of Israel's Fed Cup team.
Tomorrow: A hoops star from the '80s who refused to retire
